WEST PALM BEACH – Though Robert Sheppard’s senior season at quarterback was cut short, he found another talent that proved to be useful for Palm Beach Lakes.
Sheppard was not the Rams starting quarterback, but he did use his smarts to help junior signal-caller Tre’Von Taylor emerge as the No. 1 quarterback in his own class.
The Palm Beach Lakes football program benefited tremendously from the way Sheppard handled the quarterback situation, as it went on to be the undisputed No. 1 team in Palm Beach County and win the Lou Groza Team of the Year honor.
“My senior year, our first game against Wellington, I injured my shoulder and was out for the majority of the season,” the 5-foot-11, 160-pound quarterback said. “But I would say from this injury it helped me with the mental side of the game. It helped me see both the player and coach’s perspective of the game. So overall I wasn’t able to play as much as I desired due to the to the injury. But it was definitely a learning experience that helped add some more tools to my tool kit.”
Sheppard gave a host of helpful tips along the way to Taylor, who finished this past season with 1,897 yards with 26 touchdown passes and only four interceptions, in addition to 266 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on the ground.
“Tre’Von did a great job,” Sheppard said. “He was one of the key factors to our winning season. I helped here and there, but nothing major. Coach OB (offensive coordinator Obrian Edwards) deserves the most credit.”
Sheppard, who finished his high school years at Lakes with a 3.5 grade point average, went on to accept a scholarship from Shaw. For the next 4-5 years, he will be at the HBCU institution, based in Raleigh, N.C.
“Initially Shaw wasn’t the school I had interest in,” Sheppard sad. “I was deciding between Bethune-Cookman and Southern. But with further research I noticed Shaw University would give me the best opportunities to achieve my goals. I was accepted into Shaw’s Honors College and will be majoring in biology on a pre-med track.”
Sheppard was happy to share what he could offer to Shaw’s college football program, which finished with a 6-4 record this past year.
“First I would say this: Me being a walk-on and having the opportunity to try out and potentially make the team will be awesome,” Sheppard said. “But I think I will humbly bring leadership, determination and grit to the team.”
Sheppard shared what his greatest strength is as both a player and a person.
“Humbly my greatest asset is to process information,” Sheppard said. “My belief, if I can can translate the classroom information processes to the football field, I feel that it can not only give me a better understanding but a way I can progress in my own element.”
Sheppard graduated from Palm Beach Lakes High School in a virtual setting this past Thursday (June 4). He reflected on his high school years, which has proven to be a learning experience in more ways than one.
“The past 3.5 years didn’t end the way I wanted,” Sheppard said. “However, I learned a lot about myself, which is critical to my development. I learned that I have the stamina and tenacity to strongly finish any task that is before me.”
PHOTO CREDITS: Football Hotbed and Ovation Production
